Welsh for Beginners Undergraduate - 2021 Entry

From Welsh American literature to medieval legends and the modern novel; from creative writing to work experience and professional development: a degree in Welsh gives you a unique perspective on our country's culture and the wider world.

Welsh is a subject for students from every background. This new 4-year course has been designed for those who do not yet speak a word of Welsh. Concentrating in the first year on acquiring spoken modern Welsh, from the second year onwards greater focus will be placed on writing skills and students will increasingly be taught with second- and first-language students. During the third and fourth years students will follow the main Welsh BA degree scheme with all modules taught through the medium of Welsh.

The specially designed foundation year (Year 1) has been designed for beginners and unconfident speakers and focuses on practical skills. Through the course of your studies there will be a gradual increase in the amount of Welsh-medium teaching, with modules specifically designed to facilitate the cross-over being a learner to becoming a confident speaker.

What is Welsh?

Welsh is a broad and varied academic subject that includes the language and its literature, from its historic beginnings to the present day. Along with some core elements, students are able to choose from a range of optional modules, which provide you with the opportunity to develop specific interests, from pure literature to issues relating to the workplace, for example:

• Welsh poetry and prose of all kinds, from all periods
• The novel
• Local and community literature
• Medieval legends
• Drama and the theatre - in Wales and beyond
• American Welsh literature
• Cultural studies and literary criticism
• Feminist and gender writing
• Literature and new media
• Translation (literary and administrative)
• Literature philosophy ('What is literature?')
• Sociolinguistics and language planning
• Celtic Studies and Irish

Creative writing is very prominent at Bangor. From among our lecturers, four have won the main poetry and prose prizes at the National Eisteddfod and have written some of the most praiseworthy books and plays in recent years. Students can choose to attend creative writing workshops - on poetry, prose and script writing - led by experienced authors.

Why choose Bangor University for this course?

• Bangor is an ideal location to study Welsh. You will get to fully develop your skills by learning in small groups and by following special modules.
• Bangor University is located in the county of Gwynedd, where the majority of the population speaks Welsh. No other university offers such a remarkable linguistic environment to study a living Celtic language.
• At Bangor, you can experience all aspects of student life through the medium of Welsh, in a natural and friendly environment.
• Lecturers at the School of Welsh have won important national prizes: we have two crowned poets and two prose medal winners at the National Eisteddfod, and our lecturers have won the Book of the Year prize several times.
• You will be taught by academic staff who are leading international experts in their respective fields of study. 

The four-year programme includes a Foundation Year, which leads to the regular three-year BA degree (see also Cymraeg BA). You will spend around 10 hours per week in lectures, seminars and small tutorial groups. This will be supplemented by private study. You will be assessed through examinations, essays, continuous coursework and oral presentations.

What will you study on this course?

Foundation Year

The foundation year focuses mainly on developing speaking skills. Students will also develop writing skills and have the opportunity to learn about the history, literature and culture of Wales.

During this year, you will be learning under the guidance of specialists at the north west Wales Welsh for Adults Centre as well as the School of Welsh.

Compulsory Modules:

• Cymraeg Llafar Dwys 1 (Intensive Spoken Welsh 1)
• Cymraeg Llafar Dwys 2 (Intensive Spoken Welsh 2)
• Cyflwyno Llenyddiaeth Gymraeg (Introduction to Welsh Literature)

Year 1

You will join 1st year students on the Welsh BA degree (second-language route).

Compulsory Modules:

• Ysgrifennu Cymraeg (Writing Welsh)
• Cymraeg Llafar (Spoken Welsh)
• Beirniadaeth Lenyddol Ymarferol (Practical Literary Criticism)
• Golwg ar Lenyddiaeth (Looking at Literature)
• Llenyddiaeth yr Oesoedd Canol (Mediaeval Literature)
• Llên y Cyfnod Modern Cynnar (Literature of the Early Modern Period)
• Llenyddiaeth Gyfoes (Contemporary Literature)
• Llên a Llun (Literature and Visual Culture)

Optional Modules:

You may choose up to 20 further credits from modules in the School of Welsh from a list that may include:

• Golwg ar Lenyddiaeth II (Looking at Literature II)
• Defnyddio’r Gymraeg (Using Welsh)
• Sgriptio Teledu (Scriptwriting for Television)
• Gweithdy Creadigol (Creative Workshop)
• Theatr Fodern Ewrop (Modern European Theatre)
• Gwyddeleg Modern (Modern Irish)
• O’r Senedd i’r Swyddfa (From the Senedd to the Office)

Years 2 and 3

Year 2 Compulsory Module:

• Ymarfer Ysgrifennu (Writing Practice)

Year 3 Compulsory Module:

• Dissertation

Optional Modules in Years 2 and 3 may include:

• Llên a Chymdeithas 1500–1800 (Literature and Society 1500-1740)
• Beirdd yr Uchelwyr (Poets of the Nobility)
• Gweithdy Barddoniaeth (Poetry Workshop)
• Y Theatr Gymraeg Fodern (Modern Welsh Theatre)
• Y Sgrin Fach Gymraeg (The Welsh Small Screen)
• O'r Llyfr i'r Llwyfan (From the Book to the Stage)
• Dafydd ap Gwilym
• Gweithdy Cynganeddu (Welsh Strict Meter Workshop)
• Gweithdy Rhyddiaith (Prose Workshop)
• Chwedlau’r Oesau Canol (Medieval Legends)
• Barddoniaeth Fodern (Modern Poetry)
• Canu Llys (Court Poetry)
• Rhyddid y Nofel (The Freedom of the Novel)
• Llenyddiaeth Gymraeg America (Welsh American Literature)
• Sgriptio (Script writing)
• Datblygiad yr Iaith (Development of the Welsh Language)
• Athroniaeth a Llenyddiaeth (Philosophy and Literature)

Modules for the current academic year

Module listings are for guide purposes only and are subject to change. Find out what our students are currently studying on the Welsh for Beginners Modules page.

Course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.

Optional Costs:

Students may choose to buy books, but this is not compulsory as all books will be available in the library. The exact cost depends entirely on the individual student, but it could be estimated that students choose to spend around £20 per module.

If the student attends the graduation ceremony, c.£12 will be paid for student ticket and two guest tickets, and c.£40 to hire a gown (prices may change).

General University Costs

Home/EU Student Tuition Fees (starting in 2019–20 & 2020–21)

• Full time: £9,000 per year
• Part time: £750 per 10 credits

International Student Tuition Fees*
* Please note: the international tuition fees displayed are for the current academic year (2020-21). The fees for the next academic year (2021-22) will be confirmed soon.

When coming to University, you will have two main costs, Tuition Fees and Living Costs.

There are also some common additional costs that are likely to arise for students on all courses, for example:

• If you choose to study abroad or take the International Experience Year as part of your course.
• If you attend your Graduation Ceremony, there will be a cost for gown hire (£25-£75) and cost for guest tickets (£12 each).

Course-specific additional costs
Depending on the course you are studying, there may be additional course-specific costs that you will be required to meet. These fall into three categories:

1. Mandatory Costs: these are related to a particular core or compulsory module that you’ll be required to complete to achieve your qualification e.g. compulsory field trips, uniforms for students on placement, DBS Check.
2. Necessarily Incurred Costs: these may not be experienced by all students, and will vary depending on the course e.g. professional body membership, travel to placements, specialist software, personal safety equipment.
3. Optional Costs: these depend on your choice of modules or activity and they are shown to give you an indication of the optional costs that may arise to make sure your choice is as informed as possible. These can include graduation events for your course, optional field trips, Welcome Week trips.

For 2021 entry:

Typical offer is based on a minimum 112 tariff points from a Level 3 qualification* e.g.:

• A Levels (including grade B in an Arts or Humanities subject, e.g. English, French, German, History, Geography, Religious Studies). A level Welsh is not required.
• International Baccalaureate Diploma (including grade H6 in an Arts or Humanities subject)
• BTEC National/Extended Diploma and Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma: DMM**
• City & Guilds Advanced Technical/ Extended Diploma: considered on a case by case basis**
• Access course in the area of Arts or Humanities: Pass
• Welsh Baccalaureate is accepted.

International Candidates: school leaving qualifications and college diplomas are accepted from countries worldwide (subject to minimum English Language requirements). More information here. 

We also welcome applications from mature applicants.

*For a full list of accepted Level 3 qualifications, go to www.ucas.com.

 

General University Requirements

We accept students with a wide range of qualifications and backgrounds and consider each application individually.

All students need to have good basic skills and the University also values IT and communication skills.

As part of the University’s policy we consider applications from prospective disabled students on the same grounds as all other students.

To study a degree, diploma or certificate course you’ll be asked for a minimum of UCAS Tariff points. For a fuller explanation of the UCAS Tariff Points, please see www.ucas.com

We also consider applications from mature students who can demonstrate the motivation and commitment to study a university programme. Each year we enrol a significant number of mature students. For more help and advice about being a mature student at Bangor, please visit the Study at Bangor site.

Specific entry requirements can be seen on the individual course pages.

EU and International students' entry requirements

For information and further detailed guidance on entry requirements for EU and International Students, including the minimum English Language entry requirement, please visit the Entry Requirements by Country pages. International applicants can also visit the International Education Centre section of our website for further details.

Bangor University offers International Incorporated Bachelor Degrees for International students whose High School qualification is not equivalent to the UK school leaving qualification. The first year (or Year 0) is studied at Bangor University International College, an embedded College on our University campus and delivered by Oxford International Education Group.

More information

Home/EU students and International UCAS applicants

E-mail for General Admissions: admissions@bangor.ac.uk or write to:

Admissions Office
Bangor University
Gwynedd
LL57 2TF

Telephone: +44 (0)1248 383717 

International students (non-UCAS applicants)

Email to International Admissions: internationaladmissions@bangor.ac.uk or write to

Admissions Office
Bangor University
Gwynedd
LL57 2TF

Telephone: +44 (0) 1248 382028

A degree in Welsh can lead to a wide range of careers. There is a great demand for graduates of Welsh and the skills that you learn by taking our more practical modules are a great preparation for a career and a job. Nationally, Welsh contributes to a wide range of fields that characterize contemporary society including: education, broadcasting, publishing, theatre, politics, administration, language planning, translation, journalism, marketing, and tourism and the heritage industry. The legislation in place to protect the Welsh language and increase its use means that the employment opportunities for graduates in the subject are greater than they have ever been.

Our recent graduates have gone on to work in a variety of areas, such as teaching (primary, secondary, further education, higher education), translation, journalism, the media, editing and publishing, marketing and public relations, press officers, language planners, administration and the civil service.

Opportunities at Bangor

The University’s Skills and Employability Service provides a wide range of resources to help you achieve your graduate ambitions. Developing your personal skills and enhancing your employability while at university is becoming increasingly important in today’s job market.

The Bangor Employability Award (BEA) and Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR)

The Bangor Employability Award enables students to build on their transferable skills through the recognition of activities they become involved in during their university life. Students can gain points towards the award through extra-curricular activities such as volunteering, attending workshops or actively participating in the Students’ Union’s clubs and societies.

The HEAR is a final graduation report that all undergraduates receive. The report itemises all academic achievements and additional extra and co-curricular achievements. Academic achievements appear on the report automatically and students are able to note their eligible activities by using the online platform ‘My Employability Hub’. This ensures that future employers are made aware of the additional skills the student has gained outside of the curriculum.

The Award is open to everyone and taking part in the scheme can make a major difference to your performance in the graduate job market.

Internships

Bangor University runs undergraduate and postgraduate internship schemes twice a year, which allow students to work in a professional environment while learning relevant skills and earning money.

Internships offer valuable experience in a professional workplace and there are a range of internships you can get involved in.

Student Volunteering

Not only is volunteering worthwhile – it also improves your employability and widens your experience.

The Students’ Union has a dedicated Student Volunteering Office (SVB) which currently contributes a total of 600 hours each week, promoting a close relationship between the university and the local community. Find out more on the Student Volunteering pages of the Bangor Student’s Union website.

TARGETconnect - Working while you Study

The Skills and Employability Service offers support to students searching for employment during and after their studies.

TARGETconnect advertises the following opportunities:

• Graduate jobs – Local, National and International
• Full-time, part time, permanent and temporary jobs
• Work experience / internships
• Voluntary opportunities

General University Application

How to apply through UCAS

Apply online via UCAS

UCAS stands for Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. All university applications are processed through UCAS and then passed on to the universities listed.

Students may apply for a maximum of five courses. For Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary courses students are only allowed to apply for four courses.

The application form is found on the UCAS website, under ‘Apply’.

When to apply?

We advise you to apply as early as you can as we will start considering applications and making offers straight away. The initial UCAS deadline for UK and EU students is 15 January, however we welcome applications after this date. Those received between 15 January and 30 June will continue to be forwarded to universities by UCAS and will receive consideration where places are still available.

Your Personal Statement

Writing your Personal Statement is the part of the application form that requires most work. You are only allowed 47 lines or 500–550 words to explain why you wish to study the course and the skills you have that are essential for university study.

To write a successful personal statement for your UCAS application you must have a good understanding about the course and its content. Remember that you write only one personal statement for your five choices. Make sure that the courses are similar, if not the same, and make sure that you do not mention a specific course or university.

Read our advice on how to draft a winning personal statement or watch our video guide.

After you’ve applied

You should keep an eye on your application on UCAS ‘Track’. Offers from universities will appear on track and you will be able to accept or decline offers.

You can only reply when you have received all your decisions. The types of reply you can make are firm acceptance and insurance acceptance. Usually students reply in early May.

International Student?

If you are an international student, our International Student pages offer further information on applying.

As an international student applying to study one of our undergraduate programmes you can:

• apply via UCAS,
• or apply direct to Bangor through our online direct application system
• or apply with the help of one of our recruitment agents

Erasmus student?

We receive around 350 exchange students every year from all over the world. 45% of these students come from Europe and the remainder from as far as Singapore, South Korea and Australia.

The University’s International Exchanges Office is responsible for welcoming these students.

Confused about your next steps?

Take a look at our Going to University website for information and advice on getting ready for university.